Steam generator



J. H. HELMS Sept. 24, 1929.

`STEAM GENERATOR Filed OCT.. 31,` 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet SAFETY VALVE nihnllllluj m m wm ze, l./l H J G uom p J.- H. HELMS STEAM GENERATOR Sept. 24, 1929.

Filed Oct. 51, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet gnuenfcw j h. Hel ms Wl TNE ssEs Sept. 24, 1929. J. H. HELMs STEAM GENERATOR Filed Oct. 51, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet "5 lll-III mi HHWr vvue/nfo'c JH. Hel ms f www 3 I Patented Sept. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES JOHN H. HELMS, OF FORTVILLE, INDIANA.

STEAM GENERATOR Application filed October 31, 1923. Serial No. 672,005."

The present invention relates to a steam generator and has for its principal object to provide means for maintaining an even pressure of steam by regulating the flow of water to the generator and also the amount of fuel being utilized. The device is likewise useful in carbide gas generation and in numerous other ways.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a generator of this nature possessed of a simple and etlicient construction, one which is reliable, in operation, and well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

ith the above and numerous other objects in View as will appear as the description progresses, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the generator;

Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof; and

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view showing the controlling mechanism.

Referring to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that 1 designates a frame of suitable construction at the top of which is mounted a Water tank 2. At the bottom of the frame 1 there is mounted a steam generator A which in the present instance includes a casing 3 having a plate 4 mounted between its top and bottom. Suitable heating means is disposed below the plate 4 for heating the same. This heating means in the present instance is in the form of an oil burner 5 fed by a pipe 6 and controlled by a valve 7 which includes the throttle 8. A valve 52 between the pipes 55 and 56 is controlled synchronously with the valve 7 so as to inject steam into the fuel. A pipe 9 connects the upper portion of the casing 3 with the tank 2 and a suitable valve 10 is disposed therein. When it is desired to start the generation of steam this valve 10 is opened so as to allow water to flow on the plate 4 which has been heated by the burner 5. A coil 50 connected to feed and return pipes 51 leading from the tank 2 is disposed about the burner. This coil is provided for initially heating the water in the tank 2. This pipe 9 and its valve 10 are only used in starting the generator and when more pressure is desired than that `usually made by the generator. A valve mechanism B is constructed with a casing 11 having two compartments 12 and 13 connected by ports 14, 15 and 16. A pipe 17 connects the compartment 13 with the casing 3 and a pipe 18 connects the compartment 12 with thetank 2 and a valve 19 is disposed in the pipe being controllable by a throttle lever 20. A valve plunger 21 is slidably mounted in the compartment V13 for closing the ports 14, and 16. A pitman rod 22 is connected with this plunger valve 21 being Vslidable through a collar 23 and connected at its upper end pivotally with a link member 24 in turn pivoted to a lever 25. This 'lever 25 is fulcrumedintermediate its ends as at 26 to a beam 27 which is part ofthe frame 1. j j

A cylinder 2S 'is'mounted above and connects with the casing 3 by a pipe 29. A plunger 30 is movable in the cylinder 28 being controlled by a pitman rod 31. y

A pipe 32 leads from the generator and connects with va safetyvalve 33` of any desired construction.r A pipe 53 connects the valve 33 with the tank 2. A link 34 is pivoted to the lever 25 at 25 and to the pitman rod 31 at 36 and a spring 34 is disposed 'between the upper end of the link 34 and the bottom end of the safety valve 33, a threaded extension 41 depends from the safety valve 33 and a nut 42 is disposed thereon which is engaged by the spring 34 so that by adjustment of the nut 42 the springl 34 may be adjusted so that the desired tension may be had for placing the desired pressure on the plunger 30. The steam from the generator is lead to the engine byl a pipe 37 which is provided` with a valve 37 controllable by the throttle 38. The burntgases from the chamber below the plate 4 in the casing 3 pass through a pipe 39 which is coiled through the tank 2 as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2 so that the water will be pre-heated to some extent. Considering the parts of the mechanism as shown in Figures 1 and 3 particularly it will be seen that when the valve 19 is opened by the throttle 20, the water will flow from the v tank 2 through the pipe 18 to .the valve B and pass through the ports 14, 15 and 16 between compartments 12 and 13 and through pipe 17 into the casing 3 oi the generator. This water flowing onto the plate 4 which is being heated by the heater 5, the valve 7 being opened tov its vfullest extent will cause the generation of steam. This steam passes outwardly to the engine through pipe 37. As pressure is formed in the casing 3, the steam will tend to raise the plunger 30 and fulcrum the lever 25 through the intermediacy of rod 31 and link 34 whereby the plunger valve 21 will be moved downwardly lirst closing port 14, then as the pressure increases closing port 15 also and iinally closing all three ports 14, 15 and 16 completely shutting otl the water. The pressure at which the water will be shut off completely is dependent upon the tension that is maintained on the spring 34 by the nut 42. It will also be noted that a 'rod 45 is connected to the right hand end of the lever 25 as illustrated in Figure 1 and also to the end of throttle 8 so that as the plunger valve 21 moves downwardly this rod 45 will also move downwardly actuating the throttle 8 and closing' the valve 7 so as to shut otf the supply of fuel.

It is thought that vthe construction and operation of the invention should now be clearly understood. 'It is, however', desired to point out that numerous changes in the details of construction, 'and in the C-ombination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention or .sacrificing any of its advantages.

What is claimed is:

In a steam generator, a generating chamber, a water inlet pipe leading to. said chamber, a burner `for the chamber, al fuel pipe for the burner, a steam pipe in the chamber connected with the fuell pipe, a valve in the fuel pipe, a valve inthe steam pipe, a valve for the water inlet pipe including a piston, a pressure operated piston, a lever rockabl'y mounted intermediate its ends, means connecting one end of said lever to the pressure operated piston, means operatively connecting the lever to the piston of the water valve onthe opposite side of the pivot point of saidy lever from said point of connection of thepressure operated piston with the lever., and means connecting the, other end of said lever to the valve inthe fuel pipe and thevalve in the steam pipe. i

In, testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN H. HELMS. 

